I do not own Thomas the Tank/Thomas & Friends or I would have kept them in their models forms.

Not long after his own given time off James was really got into great boasting mood, more than usual as of late.

"I am the pride of the line, everyone knows it!" James boasted loudly one morning causing Thomas and Percy, who were both getting ready for work, both rolled their eyes.

"Nonsense we're all prides of the line, says so Sir Topham Hatt." Thomas said in response seeing today he didn't want to deal with James attitude today.

"You know what James?" Percy spoke up as he too was not in the mood to deal with James's attitude either.

"What?" James asked back still with a big smirk on his face.

"You're getting all bloated on your ego." Percy said with a scowl which Thomas also gave as both clearly weren't in the mood for James's usual attitude which was worse this morning.

James huffed at the accusation before storming away.

Sometime later at Knapford's Shunting Yards Gordon dusted his hands off after he had dealt with some annoying Rock & Load Crew members that tried to prank him. It is hard to prank Gordon now these days as all those times Thomas had pranked him has made Gordon extra aware of mischievous things happening around him.

Plus, it felt good to teach some these annoying bugs a lesson.

"Now next time watch yourselves!" Gordon shouts to the fleeing workers who bolted after getting hurled away when Gordon caught them. Gordon grinned at that before he soon notice James coming over.

"Annoying flies." James said having seen Gordon deal with them and he did admit it was enjoyable to see those annoying workers get dealt with. He hasn't forgotten that mistake that happened that caused his crash all that time ago.

"They think they could try to prank me? I am pride of the line, I won't be pranked so easily." Gordon boasted while grinning and that caused James to scowl at his comment.

"I am the pride of the line! My engine stands out the most as it isn't the same colour as other engines and I handle work the best." James protested as he felt insulted that Gordon would even think he was the pride of the line and not James, even though they are friends they still have their own prides.

"I saw you handle Goods as of late. You're only a Goods Train driver." Gordon smirked at his smaller fellow train driver who scowled more.

"I handle Passenger Trains too." James muttered annoyed. "I also handled your work while you were on your holiday."

"Clearly not good enough as clearly they needed me back to take over again." Gordon grinned more and James huffed while trying to think of a comeback.

"Sir Topham Hatt has plans for me!" James blurted out without thinking and was already dreading it, but didn't show it as he smirked at Gordon's expression.

"What plans?" Gordon asked confusion and doubt in his tone of voice.

"Uh, wait and see." James only answered fast making Gordon raise his brow at that before looking over to see Marcus calling him over. Gordon headed that leaving James on his own in his self-worry.

"Damn it James why did you have to say that?! What am I going to do?" James whispered to himself as he worried about Gordon seeing through his lie and he did not want to handle his or anyone else's teasing. He was still worrying when as he came over to Number 5 and then saw Thomas pull some Long Greens up to the platform nearby which made James grin.

"Thomas are those coaches for me?" He called out to Thomas who looked at him when he heard James. "No these are for Gordon, your trucks are nearly ready and I will bring them around soon." Thomas shouted back making James pouted briefly at handling another Goods Train and now Gordon will certainly see that James lying about special plans set for him, if Gordon hasn't already. James than grinned as he thought of a clever plan.

"Actually, Thomas you see Sir Topham Hatt has assigned those to me to take now." He said making Thomas looked at him confused at that and was doubtful a bit, but could be true as changes like these have happened before in the past so he didn't question it. "What about the Goods Train than?"

"Uh give them to Gordon." James quickly answered as Gordon was the first name that came to him to answer that and he didn't see any consequences with that. Soon he was hooked to the coaches and was pulling away with a big grin on his face as he thought he just pulled off a fools proof plan.

Gordon soon came over after speaking to Marcus who wasn't exactly happy to hear that some of his workers had a few bruises on them now, but let Gordon off the hook seeing those guys needed to be taught a lesson or two as of late. Gordon looked around after getting Number 4 ready expecting to see the coaches was going to take ready for him, he was surprised to see them nowhere in sight and for Thomas to pull up with a Goods Train alongside him.

"Thomas where are the coaches?" He asked the smaller driver who shrugs and explained to him what happened which made Gordon very furious to hear what James did.

"James I am going to kick your arse for this!"

Meanwhile, James couldn't help but grin and chuckle to himself as he drove his train down the line without any signs of consequences so far.

"What a clever plan. What a clever plan." He sang to himself as he felt extremely good and could not see anything going wrong.

Oh boy was he in a rude awakening.

He started pulling up onto Elsbridge and his heart suddenly leapt into his throat as he saw Sir Topham Hatt standing there arms crossed and looking furious. He soon pulled up to the platform slowly and tried to avoid looking at his boss who's intense bore into him.

"James, what are you doing here?" He asked slowly and calmly clearly trying to repress anger in his voice, but James still felt fear rise in him.

"I brought the Long Greens sir…" James replied timidly as he tried to smile in a way to hide his fear of knowing he was caught red-handed and was now terrified of what punishment Sir Topham Hatt had for him now.

"Which is what Gordon was supposed to be bringing right now, but right now he is having to deal with the problem you caused with your actions." Sir Topham Hatt said very sternly and James felt like just shrinking up right than and there as the guilt he was feeling was getting greater than he could handle.

"It was just a joke sir…" James responded back weakly, but the scowl he got from his boss made him shut up.

"Some jokes are funny, some aren't. You have caused confusion and disarray now head back to Knapford at once." He said sternly with no room for argument and James just nods weakly before following the order given to him.

Much later at night James just sighs as he listened to Gordon's, Percy's and Thomas's teasing while wishing he was glad Henry was still on holidays or he would have four drivers teasing him, but three is still bad enough. Edward of course scolded him for his actions and the problems it caused while both Toby and Duck just watched on amused.

James just sighs as he now seriously regrets his actions as he waited for tomorrow as Sir Topham Hatt has assigned him to handle all the shunting work at Knapford Docks and Yards. He knew he wasn't going to like it, but he can't complain as he now agreed he did cause trouble for his boss that he shouldn't have.

The next morning James had gotten up early and got Number 5 straight to work as he was determined to not mess things up. So, for the entire day he went back and forth nonstop all over the Shunting Yards and Knapford Docks handling all the work that needed to be done. He was handling the work so well and gave no complaints the other drivers admit they were both surprised and impressed by his work ethic today.

Eventually James was finished for the day and he saw the sunsetting so it was time to call it. James got Number 5 ready to head off, however he soon looked over and saw a sharply business looking man come over.

"Excuse me, I got a important meeting with Sir Topham Hatt at Wellsworth, but I seem to missed my train. I was wondering if I could get a ride there." The man said politely and James immediately recognized the man as rail inspector Jeremiah Jobling so he of course he agreed to help him out seeing Sir Topham Hatt would no doubt needed to speak with this man.

Despite it was a bit out of the way, but James fulfilled the request with no complaints as he took Jeremiah to Wellsworth where Sir Topham Hatt was waiting for them. Once there Jeremiah complimented James and told Sir Topham Hatt he was lucky to have an employee like him, to which Sir Topham Hatt proudly agreed with before informing James he was allowed to handle the Long White runs again.

James smiled at that before heading off back to Knapford to finish for today, meanwhile leaving he was glad Jeremiah didn't bring up one thing.

"Glad he didn't ask for the bootlaces back."

Finally finished this chapter as I was taking a break to actually buy Season 1 – 7 off ebay seeing with a certain popular Youtube channel taken down it was hard to remember episodes exactly so I decided to buy the seasons to make writing better.

Also, while on break I got Covid so I was focused on getting through isolation, but all good now so right back to writing now.

Hope you all enjoyed.